California Codes

State Board of Education

Boards of education are elected in cities under the provisions of the laws governing the respective cities, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

The members of any elective city board of education shall be elected at large from the territory within the boundaries of the school district or districts which are under the jurisdiction of the city board of education, whether sitting as a board of education, high school board, or community college board, and any qualified elector of the territory shall be eligible to be a member of such city board of education.

When outside territory has been annexed to a city for school purposes it shall be deemed a part of the city for the purpose of holding the general municipal election, and shall form one or more election precincts, as may be determined by the legislative authority of the city. The qualified electors of the annexed territory shall vote only for the board of education or the board of school trustees.

(a) (1) If a unified school district governed by a board of education of five members includes a chartered city, the charter of which provides for a board of education, the members of which are to be elected pursuant to this code and to hold office for the terms provided by this code, and three members of that board of education were elected to hold office for a term expiring during the school year commencing on the date the district was formed for all purposes, the office of three members of the board of education shall be filled at the first election of governing board members following the date of formation for all purposes.

(2) The term of office of the three members elected pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be determined by lot. The term of one member shall expire on the first Friday in December of the first succeeding odd-numbered year following his or her election; and the terms of two members shall expire on the first Friday in December of the second succeeding odd-numbered year following their election. The persons elected to succeed the three members shall hold office for four years.

(b) In a unified school district formed pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 35700) of Part 21 of Division 3 of Title 2, which includes a chartered city, the governing board of the school district shall be the board of education of such city or city and county, provided that all qualified electors residing within the unified school district are eligible to vote at all elections held for the election of members of the city board of education and any elector residing in the district, or in a trustee area if the district is divided into trustee areas, is eligible to serve as a member of that board.

(c) In the event a unified district includes a chartered city, the governing board of the unified school district shall consist of either five or seven members, and shall be elected at large or by trustee areas, as designated by the unification proposal, and any elector residing in the district, or in a trustee area if the district is divided into trustee areas, is eligible to serve as a member of the board. The first governing board of any such unified school district shall be elected in the manner prescribed by Section 35101, except where the charter of the included chartered city expressly provides for the election of the first governing board of a newly formed unified school district, in which case those provisions of the charter shall control the election of the governing board.

Officers and Employees Generally

“Employee” includes an officer, judicial officer as defined in Section 327 of the Elections Code, employee, or servant, whether or not compensated, but does not include an independent contractor.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, judges, subordinate judicial officers, and court executive officers of the superior courts are state officers for purposes of Part 1 (commencing with Section 810) to Part 7 (commencing with Section 995), inclusive, and trial court employees are employees of the trial court for purposes of Part 1 (commencing with Section 810) to Part 7 (commencing with Section 995), inclusive. The Judicial Council shall provide for representation, defense, and indemnification of those individuals and the court pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 810) to Part 7 (commencing with Section 995), inclusive. The Judicial Council shall provide for that representation or defense through the county counsel, the Attorney General, or other counsel. The county counsel and the Attorney General may, but are not required to, provide representation or defense for the Judicial Council. The fact that a justice, judge, subordinate judicial officer, court executive officer, court employee, the court, the Judicial Council, or the Administrative Office of the Courts is or was represented or defended by the county counsel, the Attorney General, or other counsel shall not be the sole basis for a judicial determination of disqualification of a justice, judge, subordinate judicial officer, the county counsel, the Attorney General, or other counsel in unrelated actions.

(b) To promote the cost-effective, prompt, and fair resolution of actions, proceedings, and claims affecting the trial courts, the Judicial Council shall adopt rules of court requiring the Administrative Office of the Courts to manage actions, proceedings, and claims that affect the trial courts and involve superior courts, superior court judges, subordinate judicial officers, court executive officers, or trial court employees in consultation with the affected courts and individuals. The Administrative Office of the Courts’ management of these actions, proceedings, and claims shall include, but not be limited to, case management and administrative responsibilities such as selection of counsel and making strategic and settlement decisions.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the employment status of subordinate judicial officers, court executive officers, and trial court employees related to any matters not covered by subdivision

Scope or part: Nothing in this part affects liability based on contract or the right to obtain relief other than money or damages against a public entity or public employee.

Nothing in this part shall be construed to impliedly repeal any provision of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3201) or Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 6100) of the Labor Code.

Except as otherwise provided by statute:

(a) A public entity is not liable for an injury, whether such injury arises out of an act or omission of the public entity or a public employee or any other person.

(b) The liability of a public entity established by this part (commencing with Section 814) is subject to any immunity of the public entity provided by statute, including this part, and is subject to any defenses that would be available to the public entity if it were a private person.

(a) A public entity is liable for injury proximately caused by an act or omission of an employee of the public entity within the scope of his employment if the act or omission would, apart from this section, have given rise to a cause of action against that employee or his personal representative.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by statute, a public entity is not liable for an injury resulting from an act or omission of an employee of the public entity where the employee is immune from liability.

  1. a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, unless the elected official and the public entity are named as codefendants in the same action, a public entity is not liable to a plaintiff under this part for any act or omission of an elected official employed by or otherwise representing that public entity, which act or omission constitutes an intentional tort, including, but not limited to, harassment, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. For purposes of this section, harassment in violation of state or federal law constitutes an intentional tort, to the extent permitted by federal law. This section shall not apply to defamation.

(b) If the elected official is held liable for an intentional tort other than defamation in such an action, the trier of fact in reaching the verdict shall determine if the act or omission constituting the intentional tort arose from and was directly related to the elected official’s performance of his or her official duties. If the trier of fact determines that the act or omission arose from and was directly related to the elected official’s performance of his or her official duties, the public entity shall be liable for the judgment as provided by law. For the purpose of this subdivision, employee managerial functions shall be deemed to arise from, and to directly relate to, the elected official’s official duties. However, acts or omissions constituting sexual harassment shall not be deemed to arise from, and to directly relate to, the elected official’s official duties.

(c) If the trier of fact determines that the elected official’s act or omission did not arise from and was not directly related to the elected official’s performance of his or her official duties, upon a final judgment, including any appeal, the plaintiff shall first seek recovery of the judgment against the assets of the elected official. If the court determines that the elected official’s assets are insufficient to satisfy the total judgment, including plaintiff’s costs as provided by law, the court shall determine the amount of the deficiency and the plaintiff may seek to collect that remainder of the judgment from the public entity. The public entity may pay that deficiency if the public entity is otherwise authorized by law to pay that judgment.

(d) To the extent the public entity pays any portion of the judgment against the elected official pursuant to subdivision (c) or has expended defense costs in an action in which the trier of fact determines the elected official’s action did not arise from and did not directly relate to his or her performance of official duties, the public entity shall pursue all available creditor’s remedies against the elected official in indemnification, including garnishment, until the elected official has fully reimbursed the public entity.

(e) If the public entity elects to appeal the judgment in an action brought pursuant to this section, the entity shall continue to provide a defense for the official until the case is finally adjudicated, as provided by law.

(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that elected officials assume full fiscal responsibility for their conduct which constitutes an intentional tort not directly related to their official duties committed for which the public entity they represent may also be liable, while maintaining fair compensation for those persons injured by such conduct.

(g) This section shall not apply to a criminal or civil enforcement action brought on behalf of the state by an elected district attorney, city attorney, or Attorney General.

(h) If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are severable.

.  A public entity is liable for injury proximately caused by a tortious act or omission of an independent contractor of the public entity to the same extent that the public entity would be subject to such liability if it were a private person. Nothing in this section subjects a public entity to liability for the act or omission of an independent contractor if the public entity would not have been liable for the injury had the act or omission been that of an employee of the public entity.

Where a public entity is under a mandatory duty imposed by an enactment that is designed to protect against the risk of a particular kind of injury, the public entity is liable for an injury of that kind proximately caused by its failure to discharge the duty unless the public entity establishes that it exercised reasonable diligence to discharge the duty.

State Government

(a) Except as otherwise provided by statute (including Section 820.2), a public employee is liable for injury caused by his act or omission to the same extent as a private person.

(b) The liability of a public employee established by this part (commencing with Section 814) is subject to any defenses that would be available to the public employee if he were a private person.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, the civil immunity of juvenile court social workers, child protection workers, and other public employees authorized to initiate or conduct investigations or proceedings pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall not extend to any of the following, if committed with malice:

(1) Perjury.

(2) Fabrication of evidence.

(3) Failure to disclose known exculpatory evidence.

(4) Obtaining testimony by duress, as defined in Section 1569 of the Civil Code, fraud, as defined in either Section 1572 or Section 1573 of the Civil Code, or undue influence, as defined in Section 1575 of the Civil Code.

(b) As used in this section, “malice” means conduct that is intended by the person described in subdivision (a) to cause injury to the plaintiff or despicable conduct that is carried on by the person described in subdivision (a) with a willful and conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others.

(a) For purposes of Section 820.2, the decision of a peace officer, as defined in Sections 830.1 and 830.2 of the Penal Code, or a state or local law enforcement official, to render assistance to a motorist who has not been involved in an accident or to leave the scene after rendering assistance, upon learning of a reasonably apparent emergency requiring his immediate attention elsewhere or upon instructions from a superior to assume duties elsewhere, shall be deemed an exercise of discretion.

(b) The provision in subdivision (a) shall not apply if the act or omission occurred pursuant to the performance of a ministerial duty. For purposes of this section, “ministerial duty” is defined as a plain and mandatory duty involving the execution of a set task and to be performed without the exercise of discretion.

Official Bonds

Unless otherwise provided, every official bond shall be filed in the proper office within the time prescribed for filing the oath.

The county recorder shall record the bond and return it to the county officer with whom it is required to be filed. Such officer shall keep the bond on file for one year following the expiration of the term of the office for which the bond was issued at which time said bond may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

For the purposes of this chapter, a government crime insurance policy or employee dishonesty insurance policy, including faithful performance, may be provided as an alternative to the official bond by any county or city, subject to approval by the presiding judge of the superior court and recording and filing as provided in Sections 1457 to 1460.1, inclusive. An insurance policy procured pursuant to this section may be used as a master bond as though it were an official bond, subject to approval of the appointing power or the legislative body as provided in Section 1481.

Every officer, agent or employee not required by statute to give an official bond may be required to give an individual official bond, or other form of individual bond, in the amount to be fixed by the appointing power and such bond shall inure to the benefit of the appointing power, state, county or municipality, by whom such officer, employee, or agent is employed as well as the officer under whom the employee or agent serves.

 

The appointing power shall obtain the approval of the Department of General Services before requiring any state officer, employee, or agent to give an individual bond pursuant to this section, and before including the name or position or office of any such officer, employee, or agent in a master bond as provided in Section 1481.

 

(a) When deemed expedient by the appointing power, a master official bond or other form of master bond may be used which shall provide coverage on more than one officer, employee, or agent who is required by the appointing power or the board of supervisors of a chartered or general law county to give bond.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when deemed expedient by the legislative body of a local public agency, a master official bond or other form of master bond may be used which shall provide coverage on more than one officer, employee, or agent of the local public agency, whether elected or appointed, who is required by statute, regulation, the appointing power, the governing board of a local public agency, or the board of supervisors of a chartered or general law county to give bond.

(c) A master bond under this section shall be in the form and for the term which is approved by the appointing power or the legislative body of a local public agency, and shall inure to the benefit of the appointing power, state, or local public agency by whom the officer, employee, or agent is employed as well as the officer or officers under whom the employee or agent serves. If the master bond provides coverage on a public guardian or public administrator, then that master bond shall be for the joint benefit of the guardianship or administratorship estates, and the county to which the bond is issued.

(d) “Local public agency” means any city or county, whether general law or chartered, city and county, special district, school district, municipal corporation, political subdivision, joint powers authority or agency created pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1, or any board, commission, or agency thereof, or other local public agency, but shall not mean the state or any agency or department of the state.

(e) “Legislative body” means the board of supervisors of a county or city, or the governing board, by whatever name called, of a local public agency.

(f) In the case of the State of California, the form and content of the bond shall be subject to the approval of the Director of General Services

All official bonds shall be made payable to the State of California in such penalty and with such conditions as required by this article, or the law creating or regulating the duties of the office

The condition of an official bond shall be that the principal will well, truly, and faithfully perform all official duties then required of him by law, and also all such additional duties as may be imposed on him by any existing law of the State or law enacted subsequently to the execution of the bond.

Every official bond executed by any officer pursuant to law is in force and obligatory upon the principal and sureties therein for:

(a) Any and all breaches of the conditions thereof committed during the time such officer continues to discharge any of the duties of or hold the office, and whether such breaches are committed or suffered by the principal officer, his deputy, or clerk except that no officer of a county, city, or city and county, whose sole compensation by virtue of his office is a fixed salary established by the Legislature, the local governing body, or the board of supervisors, shall be personally liable for the negligent act or omission of any deputy or employee serving under him and performing the duties of his office, where the appointment or qualification of such deputy or employee is required to be and has been approved by the local governing body or the board of supervisors, or by the civil service commission, unless the officer failed to exercise due care in the selection appointment or supervision of such deputy or employee, or negligently failed to suspend or secure the discharge of such deputy or employee after knowledge or notice of his inefficiency or incompetency, and except that no state officer shall be personally liable for the negligent act or omission of any deputy or employee serving under him and performing the duties of his office, where the appointment or qualification of such deputy or employee is required to be and has been approved by the State Personnel Board, unless such officer failed to exercise due care in the selection, appointment, or supervision of such deputy or employee, or negligently failed to suspend or secure the discharge of such deputy or employee after knowledge or notice of his inefficiency or incompetency.

Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as placing any liability upon the principal officer for the act of a deputy or employee unless such liability is otherwise imposed upon the principal officer by law, nor shall this section be construed or interpreted as releasing or relieving any such county, city, or city and county of any liability for the negligent act or omission of any such deputy or employee otherwise imposed by law.

(b) The faithful discharge of all duties which may be required of such officer by any law enacted subsequently to the execution of the bond.

 

Whenever, except in criminal prosecutions, any special penalty, forfeiture, or liability is imposed on any officer of a county or judicial district for nonperformance or malperformance of official duties, the liability therefor attaches to the official bond of the officer, and to the principal and sureties thereon.

The officer whose duty it is to approve official bonds required of officers of a county or judicial district not named in Section 1458 shall not accept or approve any such bond unless the affidavit of each of the personal sureties on the bond contains a statement that the surety is a resident, and either an owner of real property or householder, within the county or within an adjoining county.

The premium or charge for bonds given by surety companies for the officers, herein named, and for their deputies, clerks, assistants or subordinate officers shall be paid as follows:

(a) State officers, by the State.

(b) County officers, by the county.

(c) Officers of a judicial district, by the county in which the district is situated.

(d) School districts or other special district officers, by the school district or other special district, respectively.

(e) City officers, by the city.

State Law Violations

 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Protection of Human Subjects in Medical Experimentation Act.

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 360.)

24171.

 

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that medical experimentation on human subjects is vital for the benefit of mankind, however such experimentation shall be undertaken with due respect to the preciousness of human life and the right of individuals to determine what is done to their own bodies.

The Legislature further finds and declares that:

(a)  The Nuremberg Code of Ethics in Medical Research was developed after the trial of Nazi war criminals for unethical use of persons in medical experiments; subsequently, the Declaration of Helsinki additionally established recommendations guiding doctors in experimentation involving human subjects.

(b)  Neither the Nuremberg Code nor the Declaration of Helsinki are codified under law and are, therefore, unenforceable.

(c)  It is necessary that medical experimentation be done in such a way as to protect the rights of the human subjects involved.

(d)  There is, and will continue to be, a growing need for protection for citizens of the state from unauthorized, needless, hazardous, or negligently performed medical experiments on human beings.

It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature, in the enacting of this chapter, to provide minimum statutory protection for the citizens of this state with regard to human experimentation and to provide penalties for those who violate such provisions.

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 360.)

24172.

As used in the chapter, “experimental subject’s bill of rights,” means a list of the rights of a subject in a medical experiment, written in a language in which the subject is fluent. Except as otherwise provided in Section 24175, this list shall include, but not be limited to the subject’s right to:

(a)  Be informed of the nature and purpose of the experiment.

(b)  Be given an explanation of the procedures to be followed in the medical experiment, and any drug or device to be utilized.

(c)  Be given a description of any attendant discomforts and risks reasonably to be expected from the experiment.

(d)  Be given an explanation of any benefits to the subject reasonably to be expected from the experiment, if applicable.

(e)  Be given a disclosure of any appropriate alternative procedures, drugs or devices that might be advantageous to the subject, and their relative risks and benefits.

(f)  Be informed of the avenues of medical treatment, if any, available to the subject after the experiment if complications should arise.

(g)  Be given an opportunity to ask any questions concerning the experiment or the procedures involved.

(h)  Be instructed that consent to participate in the medical experiment may be withdrawn at any time and the subject may discontinue participation in the medical experiment without prejudice.

(i)  Be given a copy of the signed and dated written consent form as provided for by Section 24173 or 24178.

(j)  Be given the opportunity to decide to consent or not to consent to a medical experiment without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, coercion, or undue influence on the subject’s decision.

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 360.)

24173.

  As used in this chapter, “informed consent” means the authorization given pursuant to Section 24175 to have a medical experiment performed after each of the following conditions have been satisfied:

(a)  The subject or subject’s conservator or guardian, or other representative, as specified in Section 24175, is provided with a copy of the experimental subject’s bill of rights, prior to consenting to participate in any medical experiment, containing all the information required by Section 24172, and the copy is signed and dated by the subject or the subject’s conservator or guardian, or other representative, as specified in Section 24175.

(b)  A written consent form is signed and dated by the subject or the subject’s conservator or guardian, or other representative, as specified in Section 24175.

(c)  The subject or subject’s conservator or guardian, or other representative, as specified in Section 24175, is informed both verbally and within the written consent form, in nontechnical terms and in a language in which the subject or the subject’s conservator or guardian, or other representative, as specified in Section 24175, is fluent, of the following facts of the proposed medical experiment, which might influence the decision to undergo the experiment, including, but not limited to:

(1)  An explanation of the procedures to be followed in the medical experiment and any drug or device to be utilized, including the purposes of the procedures, drugs, or devices. If a placebo is to be administered or dispensed to a portion of the subjects involved in a medical experiment, all subjects of the experiment shall be informed of that fact; however, they need not be informed as to whether they will actually be administered or dispensed a placebo.

(2)  A description of any attendant discomfort and risks to the subject reasonably to be expected.

(3)  An explanation of any benefits to the subject reasonably to be expected, if applicable.

(4)  A disclosure of any appropriate alternative procedures, drugs, or devices that might be advantageous to the subject, and their relative risks and benefits.

(5)  An estimate of the expected recovery time of the subject after the experiment.

(6)  An offer to answer any inquiries concerning the experiment or the procedures involved.

(7)  An instruction to the subject that he or she is free to withdraw his or her prior consent to the medical experiment and discontinue participation in the medical experiment at any time, without prejudice to the subject.

(8)  The name, institutional affiliation, if any, and address of the person or persons actually performing and primarily responsible for the conduct of the experiment.

(9)  The name of the sponsor or funding source, if any, or manufacturer if the experiment involves a drug or device, and the organization, if any, under whose general aegis the experiment is being conducted.

(10)  The name, address, and phone number of an impartial third party, not associated with the experiment, to whom the subject may address complaints about the experiment.

(11)  The material financial stake or interest, if any, that the investigator or research institution has in the outcome of the medical experiment. For purposes of this section, “material” means ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more in securities or other assets valued at the date of disclosure, or in relevant cumulative salary or other income, regardless of when it is earned or expected to be earned.

(d)  The written consent form is signed and dated by any person other than the subject or the conservator or guardian, or other representative of the subject, as specified in Section 24175, who can attest that the requirements for informed consent to the medical experiment have been satisfied.

(e)  Consent is voluntary and freely given by the human subject or the conservator or guardian, or other representative, as specified by Section 24175, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, coercion, or undue influence.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 397, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

24174.

  As used in this chapter, “medical experiment” means:

(a)  The severance or penetration or damaging of tissues of a human subject or the use of a drug or device, as defined in Section 109920 or 109925, electromagnetic radiation, heat or cold, or a biological substance or organism, in or upon a human subject in the practice or research of medicine in a manner not reasonably related to maintaining or improving the health of the subject or otherwise directly benefiting the subject.

(b)  The investigational use of a drug or device as provided in Sections 111590 and 111595.

(c)  Withholding medical treatment from a human subject for any purpose other than maintenance or improvement of the health of the subject.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 205. Effective September 29, 1996.)

24175.

  (a)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall be subjected to any medical experiment unless the informed consent of such person is obtained.

(b)  If a person is under a conservatorship of the person or of the person and estate, pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 1400) of the Probate Code, informed consent for a medical experiment involving such person shall be obtained:

(1)  As provided in Section 2354 of the Probate Code if the person has not been adjudicated to lack the capacity to give informed consent for medical treatment.

(2)  As provided in Section 2355 of the Probate Code if the person has been adjudicated to lack the capacity to give informed consent for medical treatment.

(c)  If an adult person is gravely disabled, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 5008 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and is under a conservatorship of the person or of the person and estate, pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, informed consent for a medical experiment involving such person shall be obtained from such person, unless the conservator of such person has the right to consent to medical treatment on behalf of the conservatee, pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 5357 and Section 5358 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(d)  If an adult person is developmentally disabled, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and has no conservator and is mentally incapable of giving informed consent, informed consent shall be obtained for a medical experiment involving such person, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 4655 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(e)  Informed consent given by a person other than the human subject pursuant to subdivisions (b) through (d), inclusive, of this section shall only be for medical experiments related to maintaining or improving the health of the human subject or related to obtaining information about a pathological condition of the human subject.

(Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 730.)

24176.

 (a)  Any person who is primarily responsible for conduct of a medical experiment and who negligently allows the experiment to be conducted without a subject’s informed consent, as provided in this chapter, shall be liable to the subject in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), as determined by the court. The minimum amount of damages awarded shall be five hundred dollars ($500).

(b)  Any person who is primarily responsible for the conduct of a medical experiment and who willfully fails to obtain the subject’s informed consent, as provided in this chapter, shall be liable to the subject in an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) as determined by the court. The minimum amount of damages awarded shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(c)  Any person who is primarily responsible for the conduct of a medical experiment and who willfully fails to obtain the subject’s informed consent, as provided in this chapter, and thereby exposes a subject to a known substantial risk of serious injury, either bodily harm or psychological harm, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed one year or a fine of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or both.

(d)  Any representative or employee of a pharmaceutical company, who is directly responsible for contracting with another person for the conduct of a medical experiment, and who has knowledge of risks or hazards with respect to the experiment, and who willfully withholds information of the risks and hazards from the person contracting for the conduct of the medical experiment, and thereby exposes a subject to substantial risk of serious injury, either bodily harm or psychological harm, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed one year or a fine of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or both.

(e)  Each and every medical experiment performed in violation of any provision of this chapter is a separate and actionable offense.

(f)  Any attempted or purported waiver of the rights guaranteed, or requirements prescribed by this chapter, whether by a subject or by a subject’s conservator or guardian, or other representative, as specified in Section 24175, is void.

(g)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or expand the right of an injured subject to recover damages under any other applicable law.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 397, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)

24177.

  This chapter shall not supersede, but shall be in addition to, Article 4 (commencing with Section 111515) of Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of this code and Title 2.1 (commencing with Section 3500) of Part 3 of the Penal Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 206. Effective September 29, 1996.)

24177.5.

 (a) This chapter does not apply to a medical experimental treatment that benefits a patient subject to a life-threatening emergency if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) Care is provided in accordance with the procedures and the additional protections of the rights and welfare of the patient set forth in Part 50 of Title 21 of, and Part 46 of Title 45 of, the Code of Federal Regulations, in effect on April 1, 2012.

(2) The patient is in a life-threatening emergency necessitating urgent intervention and available treatments are unproven or unsatisfactory.

(3) The patient is unable to give informed consent as a result of the patient’s medical condition.

(4) Obtaining informed consent from the patient’s legally authorized representatives is not feasible before the treatment must be administered. The proposed investigational plan shall define the length of time of the potential therapeutic window based on scientific evidence, and the investigator shall commit to attempting to contact a legally authorized representative for each subject within that length of time and, if feasible, to asking the legally authorized representative contacted for consent within that length of time rather than proceeding without consent.

(5) There is no reasonable way to prospectively identify the individuals likely to become eligible for participation in the clinical investigation.

(6) Valid scientific studies have been conducted that support the potential for the intervention to provide a direct benefit to the patient. Risks associated with the investigation shall be reasonable in relation to what is known about the medical condition of the potential class of subjects, the risks and benefits of standard therapy, if any, and what is known about the risks and benefits of the proposed intervention or activity.

(7) The institutional review board has reviewed and approved the informed consent procedures and these procedures are to be used with subjects or their legally authorized representatives in situations where use of the procedures and documents is feasible.

(8) Additional protections of the rights and welfare of the subjects will be provided, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Consultation, including, where appropriate, consultation carried out by the institutional review board, with representatives of the communities in which the research will be conducted and from which the subjects will be drawn.

(B) Public disclosure to the communities in which the research will be conducted and from which the subjects will be drawn, prior to the initiation of the research, of plans for the research and its risks and expected benefits.

(C) Public disclosure of sufficient information following the completion of the research to apprise the community and researchers of the study, including demographic characteristics of the research population and the results of the study.

(D) Establishment of an independent data monitoring committee to exercise oversight of the research.

(b) This section does not relieve any party of any other legal duty, including, but not limited to, the duty to act in a nonnegligent manner.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 547, Sec. 1. (AB 58) Effective January 1, 2014.)

24178.

(a)  Except for this section and the requirements set forth in Sections 24172 and 24176, this chapter shall not apply to any person who is conducting a medical experiment as an investigator within an institution that holds an assurance with the United States Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to Part 46 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations and who obtains informed consent in the method and manner required by those regulations.

(b)  Subdivisions (c) and (e) shall apply only to medical experiments that relate to the cognitive impairment, lack of capacity, or serious or life-threatening diseases and conditions of research participants.

(c)  For purposes of obtaining informed consent required for medical experiments in a nonemergency room environment, and pursuant to subdivision (a), if a person is unable to consent and does not express dissent or resistance to participation, surrogate informed consent may be obtained from a surrogate decisionmaker with reasonable knowledge of the subject, who shall include any of the following persons, in the following descending order of priority:

(1)  The person’s agent pursuant to an advance health care directive.

(2)  The conservator or guardian of the person having the authority to make health care decisions for the person.

(3)  The spouse of the person.

(4)  An individual as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.

(5)  An adult son or daughter of the person.

(6)  A custodial parent of the person.

(7)  Any adult brother or sister of the person.

(8)  Any adult grandchild of the person.

(9)  An available adult relative with the closest degree of kinship to the person.

(d)  (1)  When there are two or more available persons who, pursuant to subdivision (c), may give surrogate informed consent and who are in the same order of priority, if any of those persons expresses dissent as to the participation of the person in the medical experiment, consent shall not be considered as having been given.

(2)  When there are two or more available persons who are in different orders of priority pursuant to subdivision (c), refusal to consent by a person who is a higher priority surrogate shall not be superseded by the consent of a person who is a lower priority surrogate.

(e)  For purposes of obtaining informed consent required for medical experiments in an emergency room environment, and pursuant to subdivision (a), if a person is unable to consent and does not express dissent or resistance to participation, surrogate informed consent may be obtained from a surrogate decisionmaker who is any of the following persons:

(1)  The person’s agent pursuant to an advance health care directive.

(2)  The conservator or guardian of the person having the authority to make health care decisions for the person.

(3)  The spouse of the person.

(4)  An individual defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.

(5)  An adult son or daughter of the person.

(6)  A custodial parent of the person.

(7)  Any adult brother or sister of the person.

(f)  When there are two or more available persons described in subdivision (e), refusal to consent by one person shall not be superseded by any other of those persons.

(g)  Surrogate decisionmakers described in this section shall exercise substituted judgment, and base decisions about participation in accordance with the person’s individual health care instructions, if any, and other wishes, to the extent known to the surrogate decisionmaker. Otherwise, the surrogate decisionmaker shall make the decision in accordance with the person’s best interests. In determining the person’s best interests, the decisionmaker shall consider the person’s personal values and his or her best estimation of what the person would have chosen if he or she were capable of making a decision.

(h)  Research conducted pursuant to this section shall adhere to federal regulations governing informed consent pursuant to Section 46.116 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(i)  Any person who provides surrogate consent pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (e) may not receive financial compensation for providing the consent.

(j)  Subdivisions (c) and (e) do not apply to any of the following persons, except as otherwise provided by law:

(1)  Persons who lack the capacity to give informed consent and who are involuntarily committed pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2)  Persons who lack the capacity to give informed consent and who have been voluntarily admitted or have been admitted upon the request of a conservator pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 6000) of Part 1 of Division 6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 397, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)

24179.

This chapter shall not apply to a pharmacist dispensing drugs upon a prescription.

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 360.)

24179.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, this chapter does not apply to an adult in a terminal condition who executes a directive directing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures pursuant to Section 7188. To the extent of any conflict, Division 4.7 (commencing with Section 4600) of the Probate Code prevails over the provisions of this chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 658, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2000, by Sec. 43 of Ch. 658.)

  The Division of Licensing shall issue one form of certificate to all physicians and surgeons licensed by the board which shall be designated as a “physician’s and surgeon’s certificate.”

(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

2051.

 The physician’s and surgeon’s certificate authorizes the holder to use drugs or devices in or upon human beings and to sever or penetrate the tissues of human beings and to use any and all other methods in the treatment of diseases, injuries, deformities, and other physical and mental conditions.

(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

2052.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 146, any person who practices or attempts to practice, or who advertises or holds himself or herself out as practicing, any system or mode of treating the sick or afflicted in this state, or who diagnoses, treats, operates for, or prescribes for any ailment, blemish, deformity, disease, disfigurement, disorder, injury, or other physical or mental condition of any person, without having at the time of so doing a valid, unrevoked, or unsuspended certificate as provided in this chapter or without being authorized to perform the act pursuant to a certificate obtained in accordance with some other provision of law is guilty of a public offense, punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both the fine and either imprisonment.

(b) Any person who conspires with or aids or abets another to commit any act described in subdivision (a) is guilty of a public offense, subject to the punishment described in that subdivision.

(c) The remedy provided in this section shall not preclude any other remedy provided by law.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 11. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

2053.5.

 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who complies with the requirements of Section 2053.6 shall not be in violation of Section 2051 or 2052 unless that person does any of the following:

(1)  Conducts surgery or any other procedure on another person that punctures the skin or harmfully invades the body.

(2)  Administers or prescribes X-ray radiation to another person.

(3)  Prescribes or administers legend drugs or controlled substances to another person.

(4)  Recommends the discontinuance of legend drugs or controlled substances prescribed by an appropriately licensed practitioner.

(5)  Willfully diagnoses and treats a physical or mental condition of any person under circumstances or conditions that cause or create a risk of great bodily harm, serious physical or mental illness, or death.

(6) Sets fractures.

(7) Treats lacerations or abrasions through electrotherapy.

(8)  Holds out, states, indicates, advertises, or implies to a client or prospective client that he or she is a physician, a surgeon, or a physician and surgeon.

(b) A person who advertises any services that are not unlawful under Section 2051 or 2052 pursuant to subdivision (a) shall disclose in the advertisement that he or she is not licensed by the state as a healing arts practitioner.

 

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 621, Sec. 24. Effective January 1, 2006.)

2053.6.

(a) A person who provides services pursuant to Section 2053.5 that are not unlawful under Section 2051 or 2052 shall, prior to providing those services, do the following:

(1) Disclose to the client in a written statement using plain language the following information:

(A) That he or she is not a licensed physician.

(B) That the treatment is alternative or complementary to healing arts services licensed by the state.

(C) That the services to be provided are not licensed by the state.

(D) The nature of the services to be provided.

(E) The theory of treatment upon which the services are based.

(F) His or her educational, training, experience, and other qualifications regarding the services to be provided.

(2) Obtain a written acknowledgment from the client stating that he or she has been provided with the information described in paragraph (1). The client shall be provided with a copy of the written acknowledgement, which shall be maintained by the person providing the service for three years.

(b) The information required by subdivision (a) shall be provided in a language that the client understands.

(c) Nothing in this section or in Section 2053.5 shall be construed to do the following:

1) Affect the scope of practice of licensed physicians and surgeons.

(2) Limit the right of any person to seek relief for negligence or any other civil remedy against a person providing services subject to the requirements of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 621, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2006.)

2054.

(a) Any person who uses in any sign, business card, or letterhead, or, in an advertisement, the words “doctor” or “physician,” the letters or prefix “Dr.,” the initials “M.D.,” or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that he or she is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner under the terms of this or any other law, or that he or she is entitled to practice hereunder, or who represents or holds himself or herself out as a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner under the terms of this or any other law, without having at the time of so doing a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate as a physician and surgeon under this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any of the following persons may use the words “doctor” or “physician,” the letters or prefix “Dr.,” or the initials “M.D.”:

(1) A graduate of a medical school approved or recognized by the board while enrolled in a postgraduate training program approved by the board.

(2) A graduate of a medical school who does not have a certificate as a physician and surgeon under this chapter if he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(A) If issued a license to practice medicine in any jurisdiction, has not had that license revoked or suspended by that jurisdiction.

(B) Does not otherwise hold himself or herself out as a physician and surgeon entitled to practice medicine in this state except to the extent authorized by this chapter.

(C) Does not engage in any of the acts prohibited by Section 2060.

(3) A person authorized to practice medicine under Section 2111 or 2113 subject to the limitations set forth in those sections.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 22. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018.)

2055.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person issued a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate by the Medical Board of California pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to use of the initials “M.D.”

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 886, Sec. 19.)

2056.

 (a) The purpose of this section is to provide protection against retaliation for physicians who advocate for medically appropriate health care for their patients pursuant to Wickline v. State of California 192 Cal. App. 3d 1630.

(b) It is the public policy of the State of California that a physician and surgeon be encouraged to advocate for medically appropriate health care for his or her patients. For purposes of this section, “to advocate for medically appropriate health care” means to appeal a payor’s decision to deny payment for a service pursuant to the reasonable grievance or appeal procedure established by a medical group, independent practice association, preferred provider organization, foundation, hospital medical staff and governing body, or payer, or to protest a decision, policy, or practice that the physician, consistent with that degree of learning and skill ordinarily possessed by reputable physicians practicing according to the applicable legal standard of care, reasonably believes impairs the physician’s ability to provide medically appropriate health care to his or her patients.

(c) The application and rendering by any person of a decision to terminate an employment or other contractual relationship with, or otherwise penalize, a physician and surgeon principally for advocating for medically appropriate health care consistent with that degree of learning and skill ordinarily possessed by reputable physicians practicing according to the applicable legal standard of care violates the public policy of this state. No person shall terminate, retaliate against, or otherwise penalize a physician and surgeon for that advocacy, nor shall any person prohibit, restrict, or in any way discourage a physician and surgeon from communicating to a patient information in furtherance of medically appropriate health care.

(d) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a payer from making a determination not to pay for a particular medical treatment or service, or to prohibit a medical group, independent practice association, preferred provider organization, foundation, hospital medical staff, hospital governing body acting pursuant to Section 809.05, or payer from enforcing reasonable peer review or utilization review protocols or determining whether a physician has complied with those protocols.

(e) Medically appropriate health care in a hospital licensed pursuant to Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code shall be defined by the hospital medical staff and approved by the governing body, consistent with that degree of learning and skill ordinarily possessed by reputable physicians practicing according to the applicable legal standard of care.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the governing body of a hospital from taking disciplinary actions against a physician and surgeon as authorized by Sections 809.05, 809.4, and 809.5.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Medical Board of California from taking disciplinary actions against a physician and surgeon under Article 12 (commencing with Section 2220).

(h) For purposes of this section, “person” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 2032.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 260, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)

2056.1.

(a) The purpose of this section is to ensure that health care service plans and their contracting entities do not enter into contracts with physicians and surgeons or other licensed health care providers that interfere with any ethical responsibility or legal right of physicians and surgeons or other licensed health care providers to discuss with their patients information relevant to their patients’ health care. It is the intent of the Legislature to guarantee that a physician and surgeon or other licensed health care provider can communicate freely with, and act as advocate for, his or her patient.

(b) Health care service plans and their contracting entities shall not include provisions in their contracts that interfere with the ability of a physician and surgeon or other licensed health care provider to communicate with a patient regarding his or her health care, including, but not limited to, communications regarding treatment options, alternative plans, or other coverage arrangements. Nothing in this section shall preclude a contract provision that provides that a physician and surgeon, or other licensed health care provider, may not solicit for alternative coverage arrangements for the primary purpose of securing financial gain.

(c) Any contractual provision inconsistent with this section shall be void and unenforceable.

(d) For purposes of this section, “licensed health care provider” means any person licensed or certified pursuant to this division or licensed pursuant to the Osteopathic Initiative Act or the Chiropractic Initiative Act.

(e) No communication regarding treatment options shall be represented or construed to expand or revise the scope of benefits or covered services under a health care service plan or insurance contract.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1089, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)

2058.

  (a) Nothing in this chapter prohibits service in the case of emergency, or the domestic administration of family remedies.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit obtaining a blood specimen by skin puncture for the purpose of performing blood glucose testing for the purposes of monitoring a minor child in accordance with paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 1241.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 550, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1998.)

2060.

  Nothing in this chapter applies to any practitioner located outside this state, when in actual consultation, whether within this state or across state lines, with a licensed practitioner of this state, or when an invited guest of the California Medical Association or the California Podiatric Medical Association, or one of their component county societies, or of an approved medical or podiatric medical school or college for the sole purpose of engaging in professional education through lectures, clinics, or demonstrations, if he or she is, at the time of the consultation, lecture, or demonstration a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed doctor of podiatric medicine in the state or country in which he or she resides. This practitioner shall not open an office, appoint a place to meet patients, receive calls from patients within the limits of this state, give orders, or have ultimate authority over the care or primary diagnosis of a patient who is located within this state.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 607, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)

2061.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the practice of other persons licensed, certified, or registered under any other provision of law relating to the healing arts when such person is engaged in his or her authorized and licensed practice.

(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

2062.

 Testing and guidance programs in schools, colleges, and universities and physical fitness tests given by public and private agencies in connection with employment or issuance or renewal of licenses or permits do not constitute the practice of medicine within the meaning or intent of this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

2063.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed so as to discriminate against any particular school of medicine or surgery, school or college of podiatric medicine, or any other treatment, nor shall it regulate, prohibit, or apply to any kind of treatment by prayer, nor interfere in any way with the practice of religion.

(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

2064.

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a regularly matriculated student undertaking a course of professional instruction in an approved medical school, or to prevent a foreign medical student who is enrolled in an approved medical school or clinical training program in this state, from engaging in the practice of medicine whenever and wherever prescribed as a part of his or her course of study.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.

(Repealed (in Sec. 23) and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 24. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative January 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)

2064.1.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2064 or any other provisions of this chapter, a regularly matriculated student undertaking a course of professional instruction in a medical school approved by the American Osteopathic Association or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California is eligible for enrollment in elective clerkships or preceptorships in any medical school or clinical training program in this state.

(Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 359, Sec. 10.)

2064.2.

 No medical school or clinical training program shall deny access to elective clerkships or preceptorships in any medical school or clinical training program in this state solely on the basis that a student is enrolled in an osteopathic medical school.

Any violation of this section or Section 2064.1 may be enjoined in an action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the district attorney of the county in which the violation occurs, upon receipt of a complaint by an aggrieved student.

(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 425, Sec. 1.)

2064.3.

 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, except as specified in subdivision (b), no student, including a person without lawful immigration status, a person who is exempt from nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5 of the Education Code, or a person who is both without lawful immigration status and exempt from nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5 of the Education Code, who meets the requirements for admission to a medical degree program at any public or private postsecondary educational institution that offers that program shall be denied admission to that program based on the student’s citizenship status or immigration status.

(b) Except for students granted status pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(T) or (U) of Title 8 of the United States Code, this section shall not apply to a person excluded from the term “immigrant,” for purposes of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101), pursuant to paragraph (15) of subdivision (a) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, as that paragraph exists on January 1, 2017.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 296, Sec. 2. (AB 1096) Effective January 1, 2022.)

2064.4.

  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, except as specified in subdivision (b), no student, including a person without lawful immigration status, a person who is exempt from nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5 of the Education Code, or a person who is both without lawful immigration status and exempt from nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5 of the Education Code, who meets the requirements for admission to a healing arts residency training program whose participants are not paid shall be denied admission to that program based on the student’s citizenship status or immigration status.

(b) Except for students granted status pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(T) or (U) of Title 8 of the United States Code, this section shall not apply to a person excluded from the term “immigrant,” for purposes of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101), pursuant to paragraph (15) of subdivision (a) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, as that paragraph exists on January 1, 2017.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 296, Sec. 3. (AB 1096) Effective January 1, 2022.)

2064.5.

  (a) Within 180 days after enrollment in a board-approved postgraduate training program pursuant to Section 2065, medical school graduates shall obtain a physician’s and surgeon’s postgraduate training license. To be considered for a postgraduate training license, the applicant shall submit the application forms and primary source documents required by the board, shall successfully pass all required licensing examinations, shall pay a nonrefundable application and processing fee, and shall not have committed any act that would be grounds for denial.

(1) Each application submitted pursuant to this section shall be made upon an online electronic form, or another form provided by the board, and each application form shall contain a legal verification by the applicant certifying under penalty of perjury that the information provided by the applicant is true and correct and that any information in supporting documents provided by the applicant is true and correct.

(2) Each application shall include the following:

(A) A diploma issued by a board-approved medical school. The requirements of the school shall not have been less than those required under this chapter at the time the diploma was granted or by any preceding medical practice act at the time that the diploma was granted. In lieu of a diploma, the applicant may submit evidence satisfactory to the board of having possessed the same.

(B) An official transcript or other official evidence satisfactory to the board showing each approved medical school in which a resident course of professional instruction was pursued covering the minimum requirements for certification as a physician and surgeon, and that a diploma and degree were granted by the school.

(C) Other information concerning the professional instruction and preliminary education of the applicant as the board may require.

(D) An affidavit showing to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant is the person named in each diploma and transcript that the applicant submits, that the applicant is the lawful holder thereof, and that the diploma or transcript was procured in the regular course of professional instruction and examination without fraud or misrepresentation.

(E) Either fingerprint cards or a copy of a completed Live Scan form from the applicant in order to establish the identity of the applicant and in order to determine whether the applicant has a record of any criminal convictions in this state or in any other jurisdiction, including foreign countries. The information obtained as a result of the fingerprinting of the applicant shall be used in accordance with Section 11105 of the Penal Code, and to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure under the provisions of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) and Section 2221 of this code.

(F) If the medical school graduate graduated from a foreign medical school approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084, an official Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certification Status Report confirming the graduate is ECFMG certified.

(b) The physician’s and surgeon’s postgraduate training license shall be valid until 90 days after the holder has received 12 months credit of board-approved postgraduate training for graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada or 24 months of board-approved postgraduate training for graduates of foreign medical schools approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084 other than Canadian medical schools. The physician’s and surgeon’s postgraduate training licensee may engage in the practice of medicine only in connection with the licensee’s duties as an intern or resident physician in a board-approved program, including its affiliated sites, or under those conditions as are approved in writing and maintained in the postgraduate licensee’s file by the director of the program.

(c) The postgraduate training licensee may engage in the practice of medicine in locations authorized by subdivision (b), and as permitted by the Medical Practice Act and other applicable statutes and regulations, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Diagnose and treat patients.

(2) Prescribe medications without a cosigner, including prescriptions for controlled substances, if the licensee has the appropriate Drug Enforcement Agency registration or permit and is registered with the Department of Justice CURES program.

(3) Sign birth certificates without a cosigner.

(4) Sign death certificates without a cosigner.

(5) Sign any other forms a physician and surgeon is authorized to sign.

(d) The postgraduate training licensee may be disciplined by the board at any time for any of the grounds that would subject the holder of a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate to discipline.

(e) If the medical school graduate fails to obtain a postgraduate license within 180 days after enrollment in a board-approved postgraduate training program or if the board denies the graduate’s application for a postgraduate license, all privileges and exemptions under this section shall automatically cease.

(f) Each medical school graduate who was issued a postgraduate training authorization letter by the board prior to January 1, 2020, and is enrolled in a board-approved postgraduate training program by April 30, 2025, will be issued a postgraduate training license automatically by June 30, 2020, or by June 30 of the year following initial enrollment into a board-approved postgraduate training program, whichever is earlier, upon proof of enrollment in the postgraduate training program.

(g) The board shall confidentially destroy the file of each medical school graduate who was issued a postgraduate training authorization letter by the board prior to January 1, 2020, who did not enroll in a postgraduate training program by April 30, 2025.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 6. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.)

2064.7.

  (a) The board may deny a postgraduate training license to an applicant guilty of unprofessional conduct or of any cause that would subject a licensee to revocation or suspension of his or her license. The board, in its sole discretion, may issue a probationary postgraduate training license to an applicant subject to terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, any of the following conditions of probation:

(1) Limitations on practice.

(2) Total or partial restrictions on drug prescribing privileges for controlled substances.

(3) Continuing medical or psychiatric treatment.

(4) Ongoing participation in a specified rehabilitation program.

(5) Abstention from the use of alcohol or drugs.

(6) Restrictions against engaging in certain types of medical practice.

(7) Compliance with all provisions of this chapter.

(8) Payment of the cost of probation monitoring.

(b) The decision placing the applicant on probation shall be disclosed to an inquiring member of the public indefinitely and shall be posted on the board’s Internet Web site for the period of probation.

(c) The board may modify or terminate the terms and conditions imposed on the probationary postgraduate training license after one year upon receipt of a petition from the postgraduate training licensee. The board may assign the petition to an administrative law judge designated in Section 11371 of the Government Code. After a hearing on the petition, the administrative law judge shall provide a proposed decision to the board.

(d) The board shall deny a postgraduate training license to an applicant who is required to register pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code. This subdivision does not apply to an applicant who is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code solely because of a misdemeanor conviction under Section 314 of the Penal Code.

(e) An applicant shall not be eligible to reapply for a postgraduate training license for a minimum of three years from the effective date of the denial of his or her application, except that the board may, in its discretion and for good cause demonstrated, permit reapplication after not less than one year has elapsed from the effective date of the denial.

(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 26. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative January 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)

2064.8.

 (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 2064.7, the board may issue a postgraduate training license to an applicant who has committed minor violations that the board deems, in its discretion, do not merit the denial of a postgraduate training license or require probationary status under Section 2064.7, and may concurrently issue a public letter of reprimand. The public reprimand may include a requirement that the licensee complete relevant educational courses approved by the board.

(b) A public letter of reprimand issued concurrently with a postgraduate training license shall be purged three years from the date of issuance.

(c) A public letter of reprimand issued pursuant to this section shall be disclosed to an inquiring member of the public and shall be posted on the board’s Internet Web site until purged consistent with this section.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the board’s authority to issue an unrestricted postgraduate training license.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 27. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative January 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)

2065.

 (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, no postgraduate training licensee, intern, resident, postdoctoral fellow, or instructor may engage in the practice of medicine, or receive compensation therefor, or offer to engage in the practice of medicine unless they hold a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended physician’s and surgeon’s certificate issued by the board. However, a graduate of an approved medical school may engage in the practice of medicine whenever and wherever required as a part of a postgraduate training program under the following conditions:

(1) The medical school graduate has taken and passed the board-approved medical licensing examinations required to qualify the applicant to participate in an approved postgraduate training program.

(2) If the medical school graduate graduated from a foreign medical school approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) has submitted an official ECFMG Certification Status Report directly to the board confirming the graduate is ECFMG certified.

(3) The medical school graduate is enrolled in a postgraduate training program approved by the board.

(4) The board-approved postgraduate training program has submitted the required board-approved form to the board documenting the medical school graduate is enrolled in an approved postgraduate training program.

(5) The medical school graduate obtains a physician’s and surgeon’s postgraduate training license in accordance with Section 2064.5.

(b) A medical school graduate enrolled in an approved first-year postgraduate training program in accordance with this section may engage in the practice of medicine whenever and wherever required as a part of the training program, and may receive compensation for that practice.

(c) A graduate who has completed the first year of postgraduate training may, in an approved residency or fellowship, engage in the practice of medicine whenever and wherever required as part of that residency or fellowship, and may receive compensation for that practice. The resident or fellow shall qualify for, take, and pass the next succeeding written examination for licensure. If the resident or fellow fails to receive a license to practice medicine under this chapter within 27 months from the commencement of the residency or fellowship, except as otherwise allowed under subdivision (g) or (h), or if the board denies their application for licensure, all privileges and exemptions under this section shall automatically cease.

(d) All approved postgraduate training the medical school graduate has successfully completed in the United States or Canada shall count toward the 15-month license exemption for graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada or 27-month license exemption for graduates of foreign medical schools approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084 other than Canadian medical schools, except as otherwise allowed under subdivision (h).

(e) The program director for an approved postgraduate training program in California shall report to the board, on a form approved by the board, and provide any supporting documents as required by the board, the following actions within 30 days of the action:

(1) A postgraduate training licensee is notified that they have received partial or no credit for a period of postgraduate training, and their postgraduate training period is extended.

(2) A postgraduate training licensee takes a leave of absence or any break from their postgraduate training, and they are notified that their postgraduate training period is extended.

(3) A postgraduate training licensee is terminated from the postgraduate training program.

(4) A postgraduate training licensee resigns, dies, or otherwise leaves the postgraduate training program.

(5) A postgraduate training licensee has completed a one-year contract approved by the postgraduate training program.

(f) Upon review of supporting documentation, the board, in its discretion, may grant an extension beyond 15 months to a postgraduate training licensee who graduated from a medical school in the United States or Canada, or beyond 27 months to a postgraduate training licensee who graduated from a foreign medical school approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084 other than a Canadian medical school, to receive credit for the 12 months of required approved postgraduate training for graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada and 24 months of required approved postgraduate training for graduates of foreign medical schools other than Canadian medical schools.

(g) An applicant for a physician’s and surgeon’s license who has received credit for 12 months of approved postgraduate training in another state or in Canada and who is accepted into an approved postgraduate training program in California shall obtain their physician’s and surgeon’s license within 90 days after beginning that postgraduate training program or all privileges and exemptions under this section shall automatically cease.

(h) Upon review of supporting documentation, the board, in its discretion, may grant a physician’s and surgeon’s license to an applicant who demonstrates substantial compliance with this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 7. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.)

2066.5.

 (a) The program authorized by this section shall be known and may be cited as the University of California at Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine’s International Medical Graduate Program.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a foreign medical graduate from engaging in the practice of medicine when required as part of the program authorized by this section.

(c) There is currently a preresidency training program at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, hereafter referred to as UCLA, for selected international medical graduates (IMGs). Participation in the program authorized by this section shall be at the option of UCLA. This section authorizes those IMGs, through the program authorized by this section, to receive, through the existing program, hands-on clinical instruction. The program, as administered by UCLA, shall include all of the following elements:

(1) Each program participant shall have done all of the following:

(A) Graduated from a medical school recognized by the Medical Board of California at the time of selection.

(B) Taken and passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination Steps 1 and 2 (Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Science).

(C) Submitted an application and materials to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

(2) A program participant shall receive all clinical instruction at health care facilities operated by the University of California, Los Angeles, or other approved UCLA-designated teaching sites, which shall be hospitals or clinics with either a signed formal affiliation agreement with UCLA or a signed letter of agreement.

(3) Participation of a trainee in clinical instruction offered by the program shall not generally exceed 16 weeks. However, at the discretion of UCLA, an additional eight weeks of clinical instruction may be granted. In no event shall a participant receive more than 24 weeks of clinical instruction under the program.

(4) The clinical instruction shall be supervised by licensed physicians on faculty at UCLA or faculty affiliated with UCLA as specified in an approved affiliation agreement between UCLA and the affiliated entity.

(5) The clinical instruction shall be provided pursuant to written affiliation agreements for clinical instruction of trainees established by UCLA.

(6) The supervising faculty shall evaluate each participant on a regular basis and shall document the completion of each aspect of the clinical instruction portion of the program for each participant.

(d) UCLA shall provide the board with the names of the participants in the program on an annual basis, or more frequently if necessary to maintain accuracy. Upon a reasonable request of the board, UCLA shall provide additional information such as the courses successfully completed by program participants, the dates of instruction, and other relevant information.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 144, Sec. 1. (AB 2311) Effective January 1, 2019.)

2068.

This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit any person from providing nutritional advice or giving advice concerning proper nutrition. However, this section confers no authority to practice medicine or surgery or to undertake the prevention, treatment, or cure of disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical or mental conditions or to state that any product might cure any disease, disorder, or condition in violation of any provision of law.

For purposes of this section the terms “providing nutritional advice or giving advice concerning proper nutrition” means the giving of information as to the use and role of food and food ingredients, including dietary supplements.

Any person in commercial practice providing nutritional advice or giving advice concerning proper nutrition shall post in an easily visible and prominent place the following statement in his or her place of business:

“NOTICE”

“State law allows any person to provide nutritional advice or give advice concerning proper nutrition—which is the giving of advice as to the role of food and food ingredients, including dietary supplements. This state law does NOT confer authority to practice medicine or to undertake the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or cure of any disease, pain, deformity, injury, or physical or mental condition and specifically does not authorize any person other than one who is a licensed health practitioner to state that any product might cure any disease, disorder, or condition.”

The notice required by this section shall not be smaller than 81/2 inches by 11 inches and shall be legibly printed with lettering no smaller than1/2 inch in length, except the lettering of the word “NOTICE” shall not be smaller than 1 inch in length.

(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

2069.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, a medical assistant may administer medication only by intradermal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injections and perform skin tests and additional technical supportive services upon the specific authorization and supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed podiatrist. A medical assistant may also perform all these tasks and services upon the specific authorization of a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife.

(2) The supervising physician and surgeon may, at his or her discretion, in consultation with the nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant, provide written instructions to be followed by a medical assistant in the performance of tasks or supportive services. These written instructions may provide that the supervisory function for the medical assistant for these tasks or supportive services may be delegated to the nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant within the standardized procedures or protocol, and that tasks may be performed when the supervising physician and surgeon is not onsite, if either of the following apply:

(A) The nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife is functioning pursuant to standardized procedures, as defined by Section 2725, or protocol. The standardized procedures or protocol, including instructions for specific authorizations, shall be developed and approved by the supervising physician and surgeon and the nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife.

(B) The physician assistant is functioning pursuant to regulated services defined in Section 3502, including instructions for specific authorizations, and is approved to do so by the supervising physician and surgeon.

(b) As used in this section and Sections 2070 and 2071, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Medical assistant” means a person who may be unlicensed, who performs basic administrative, clerical, and technical supportive services in compliance with this section and Section 2070 for a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed podiatrist, or group thereof, for a medical or podiatry corporation, for a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife as provided in subdivision (a), or for a health care service plan, who is at least 18 years of age, and who has had at least the minimum amount of hours of appropriate training pursuant to standards established by the board. The medical assistant shall be issued a certificate by the training institution or instructor indicating satisfactory completion of the required training. A copy of the certificate shall be retained as a record by each employer of the medical assistant.

(2) “Specific authorization” means a specific written order prepared by the supervising physician and surgeon or the supervising podiatrist, or the physician assistant, the nurse practitioner, or the certified nurse-midwife as provided in subdivision (a), authorizing the procedures to be performed on a patient, which shall be placed in the patient’s medical record, or a standing order prepared by the supervising physician and surgeon or the supervising podiatrist, or the physician assistant, the nurse practitioner, or the certified nurse-midwife as provided in subdivision (a), authorizing the procedures to be performed, the duration of which shall be consistent with accepted medical practice. A notation of the standing order shall be placed on the patient’s medical record.

(3) “Supervision” means the supervision of procedures authorized by this section by the following practitioners, within the scope of their respective practices, who shall be physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures:

(A) A licensed physician and surgeon.

(B) A licensed podiatrist.

(C) A physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife as provided in subdivision (a).

(4) (A) “Technical supportive services” means simple routine medical tasks and procedures that may be safely performed by a medical assistant who has limited training and who functions under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed podiatrist, or a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife as provided in subdivision (a).

(B) Notwithstanding any other law, in a facility licensed by the California State Board of Pharmacy under Section 4180 or 4190, other than a facility operated by the state, “technical supportive services” also includes handing to a patient a prepackaged prescription drug, excluding a controlled substance, that is labeled in compliance with Section 4170 and all other applicable state and federal laws and ordered by a licensed physician and surgeon, a licensed podiatrist, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife in accordance with subdivision (a). In every instance, prior to handing the medication to a patient pursuant to this subparagraph, the properly labeled and prepackaged prescription drug shall have the patient’s name affixed to the package and a licensed physician and surgeon, a licensed podiatrist, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife shall verify that it is the correct medication and dosage for that specific patient and shall provide the appropriate patient consultation regarding use of the drug.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing any of the following:

(1) The licensure of medical assistants.

(2) The administration of local anesthetic agents by a medical assistant.

(3) The board to adopt any regulations that violate the prohibitions on diagnosis or treatment in Section 2052.

(4) A medical assistant to perform any clinical laboratory test or examination for which he or she is not authorized by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1200).

(5) A nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant to be a laboratory director of a clinical laboratory, as those terms are defined in paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 1206 and subdivision (a) of Section 1209.

(d) A nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant shall not authorize a medical assistant to perform any clinical laboratory test or examination for which the medical assistant is not authorized by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1200). A violation of this subdivision constitutes unprofessional conduct.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, a medical assistant shall not be employed for inpatient care in a licensed general acute care hospital, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 333, Sec. 1. (AB 1841) Effective January 1, 2015.)

2070.

  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a medical assistant may perform venipuncture or skin puncture for the purposes of withdrawing blood upon specific authorization and under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed podiatrist, or a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a nurse-midwife as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 2069, if prior thereto the medical assistant has had at least the minimum amount of hours of appropriate training pursuant to standards established by the Division of Licensing. The medical assistant shall be issued a certificate by the training institution or instructor indicating satisfactory completion of the training required. A copy of the certificate shall be retained as a record by each employer of the medical assistant.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 358, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2002.)

2071.

  The board shall adopt and administer regulations that establish standards for technical supportive services that may be performed by a medical assistant. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the board from amending or repealing regulations covering medical assistants. The board shall, prior to the adoption of any regulations, request recommendations regarding these standards from appropriate public agencies, including, but not limited to, the California State Board of Optometry, the Board of Registered Nursing, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, the Laboratory Field Services division of the State Department of Public Health, those divisions of the State Department of Education that pertain to private postsecondary education and career and vocational preparation, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, the Physician Assistant Examining Committee, and the Physical Therapy Board of California. The board shall also request recommendations regarding these standards from associations of medical assistants, physicians and surgeons, nurses, doctors of podiatric medicine, physician assistants, physical therapists, laboratory technologists, optometrists, and others as the board finds appropriate, including, but not limited to, the California Optometric Association, the California Nurses Association, the California Medical Association, the California Society of Medical Assistants, the California Medical Assistants Association, and the California Physical Therapy Association. Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede or modify that portion of the Administrative Procedure Act that relates to the procedure for the adoption of regulations and which is set forth in Article 5 (commencing with Section 11346) of Chapter 3.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 630, Sec. 16. (AB 1534) Effective January 1, 2022.)

2074.

 Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the employment of a licensed physician and surgeon practicing in the specialty of ophthalmology by an optometrist licensed under the provisions of Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 3000) or by an optometric corporation certificated under that chapter.

(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

2075.

 

The performance of acupuncture by a certified acupuncturist or other licentiate legally authorized to practice acupuncture within his or her scope of practice or a person licensed or certified in another state to perform acupuncture or other forms of traditional Asian medicine, alone or in conjunction with other forms of traditional Asian medicine, when carried on in a program affiliated with and under the jurisdiction of an approved medical school or approved acupuncture school, for the primary purpose of scientific investigation of acupuncture, shall not be in violation of this chapter, but those procedures shall be carried on only under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon.

Any medical school or approved acupuncture school conducting research into acupuncture under this section shall report to the Legislature annually on the fifth legislative day of the regular session of the Legislature concerning the results of that research, the suitability of acupuncture as a therapeutic technique, and performance standards for persons who perform acupuncture.

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 649, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2006.)

2076.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a physician and surgeon who is licensed to practice medicine in another state or country shall be exempt from licensure requirements under this act while practicing medicine in this state if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The physician and surgeon has an oral or written agreement with a sports team to provide general or emergency medical care to the team members, coaching staff, and families traveling with the team for a specific sporting event to take place in this state.

(2) Except as provided in Section 2058 or 2060, the physician and surgeon may not provide care or consultation to any person residing in this state, other than a person described in paragraph (1).

(b) The exemption shall remain in force while the physician and surgeon is traveling with the team, but shall be no longer than 10 days per individual sporting event.

(c) The executive director may grant a physician and surgeon additional time for exemption, up to 20 additional days per sporting event, upon prior request by the physician and surgeon. The total number of days a physician may be exempt, including additional time granted upon request, may not exceed 30 days per sporting event.

(d) A physician and surgeon who is exempt from licensure requirements under this section is not authorized to practice medicine at a health care clinic or facility, including an acute care facility.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 78, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

2076.5.

  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a physician and surgeon lawfully practicing medicine in another state or country may be exempted from licensure while practicing medicine in this state under the following conditions:

(1) The physician and surgeon has been invited by the United States Olympic Committee to provide medical services at training sites designated by the olympic training center or to provide medical services at an event in this state sanctioned by the committee.

(2) The United States Olympic Committee certifies to the board the name of the physician and surgeon, the state or country of the applicant’s licensure, and the dates within which the applicant has been invited to provide medical services.

(3) The physician and surgeon’s practice is limited to that required by the United States Olympic Committee. Those medical services shall be within the area of the physician’s and surgeon’s competence and shall only be provided to athletes or team personnel registered to train at the olympic training center or registered to compete in an event conducted under the sanction of the United States Olympic Committee.

(b) The exemption provided in this section shall remain in force while the holder is providing medical services at the invitation of the United States Olympic Committee and only during the time certified to the board, but in no event longer than 90 days.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the official team manager who is responsible for any team member participating in events at the invitation of the United States Olympic Committee in California may give consent to the furnishing of hospital, medical, and surgical care to a minor who is a team member and that consent shall not be subject to disaffirmance because of minority. The consent of the parent, or parents, of that person shall not be necessary in order to authorize hospital, medical, and surgical care.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 654, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1998.)

2077.

  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a physician and surgeon may delegate various orthopaedic medical tasks to individuals who have completed training as orthopaedic physician assistants and who are working under the supervision and direction of a physician and surgeon. Those assistants who perform only those tasks which may under existing law be so delegated shall not be required to be licensed as physician assistants under Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500).

(b) As used in this section, “orthopaedic physician assistant” means an individual who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Successful completion of training as an orthopaedic physician assistant from an approved California orthopaedic physician assistant’s program in any year between 1971 and 1974, inclusive. As used in this section, “approved California orthopaedic physician assistant’s program” means an orthopaedic physician assistant’s course of training that has been accredited by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education.

(2) Continuous experience as an orthopaedic physician assistant upon completion of the program described in paragraph (1), which may include experience in the United States Armed Services.

(3) Successful fulfillment of the certification requirements of the National Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Physician Assistants.

(c) Nothing in this section shall authorize any individual to hold himself or herself out as a licensed physician assistant in violation of Section 3503.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1030, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)

2078.

(a) As used in this section, “DMSO” means dimethyl sulfoxide.

(b) A licensed physician and surgeon shall, prior to treating a patient with a DMSO preparation, inform the patient in writing if DMSO has not been approved as a treatment or cure by the Food and Drug Administration for the disorder for which it is being prescribed.

(c) If DMSO is prescribed for any purpose other than for those purposes approved pursuant to Section 111550 of the Health and Safety Code, informed consent shall first be obtained from the patient.

As used in this subdivision, “informed consent” means the authorization given by the patient for treatment with DMSO after each of the following conditions have been satisfied:

(1) The patient is informed verbally, in nontechnical terms, about all of the following:

(A) A description of treatment procedures to be used in administering DMSO.

(B) A description of any attendant discomfort and risks to the patient that can be reasonably expected from treatment with DMSO.

(C) An explanation of any benefits to the patient that can be reasonably expected.

(D) An explanation of any appropriate alternative procedures, drugs, or devices that might be advantageous to the patient, and their relative risks and benefits.

(E) An offer to answer any inquiries concerning the treatment of the procedures involved.

(2) The patient signs and dates a written consent form acknowledging that disclosure has been given pursuant to paragraph (1), and acknowledging consent to treatment with DMSO pursuant to this section. The patient shall be provided with a copy of the signed and dated form.

(d) An organized health care system may require that the administration of DMSO within the organized health care system be performed pursuant to standardized procedures developed by the organized health care system through collaboration among administrators and health professionals.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 890, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)

2079.

(a) A physician and surgeon who desires to administer general anesthesia in the office of a dentist pursuant to Section 1646.9, shall provide the Medical Board of California with a copy of the application submitted to the Dental Board of California pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1646.9 and a fee established by the board not to exceed the costs of processing the application as provided in this section.

(b) The Medical Board of California shall review the information submitted and take action as follows:

(1) Inform the Dental Board of California whether the physician and surgeon has a current license in good standing to practice medicine in this state.

(2) Verify whether the applicant has successfully completed a postgraduate residency training program in anesthesiology and whether the program has been recognized by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education.

(3) Inform the Dental Board of California whether the Medical Board of California has determined that the applicant has successfully completed the postgraduate residency training program in anesthesiology recognized by the American Council on Graduate Medicine.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 210, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)

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